Reed and reed dent for weaving machines

ABSTRACT

A reed ( 60 ) for a weaving machine. The reed includes juxtaposed reed dents ( 61 ), the ends of which are held in a lower profiled bar ( 62 ) and in an upper profiled bar ( 8 ). The reed dents in at least a sub-segment projecting from the lower profiled bar have a width of about 6 mm and in an upper segment exhibit a width of about 4 mm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reed with a plurality of juxtaposedreed dents the ends of which are affixed in a lower profiled bar,hereafter broadly called lower U-channel, to be mounted on a battenbeam, and in an upper profiled bar, hereafter broadly called upperU-channel.

2. Description of the Related Art

When reeds of the above kind are used in airjet looms, reed dents areused which include a U-shaped recess between their upper and lowersegments defining a filling guide channel.

It was found in practice that high weaving rates, i.e. weaving rates ofabout 1,000 fillings a minute or more will produce streaks in the fabricwhich renders the fabric as irregular.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to create a reed of theinitially cited kind which shall be appropriate for high weaving rates.

This problem is solved in that the reed dents are provided with a widthof about 6 mm at least in a segment extending from the lower profiledbar and a width of about 4 mm in their upper segment.

The invention is based on the insight that at high weaving rates thefabric streaks are caused by the reeds which, at such rates, will incurdynamic reed dent oscillations. The reed dents are comparatively rigidin their lower zone as a result of their widening at this zone and as aresult flexure, especially at filling beatup, is reduced and therebyalso the resulting oscillations of the reed dents.

On the other hand the upper, comparatively narrow segment which isfarther from the axis of rotation of the batten, is lightweight, andinertial forces arising from the to-and-fro batten motion and acting onthis reed dent segment and the resulting flexures and oscillations willremain small. Accordingly reed dent oscillations are restricted onaccount of their comparatively rigid lower segment and comparativelylightweight upper segment.

In one embodiment of the invention, the front edges of the lower andupper segments of the reed dents are at least approximately aligned witha beatup edge in the zone of the said recess. In this manner the reeddesigned with these reed dents can be used as an alternative to aconventional reed without entailing substantial changes in the loom.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the reed dents comprise asubstantially straight edge running between the upper and lower profiledbars and located opposite the filling guide channel. This design offersthe advantage that during assembly the reed dents can rest on this edge.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the reed dents have awedge-shaped width, hereafter called tapering width, in that segment orsegment portion where they enter into the lower or upper profiled bars,the cross-section of the lower and/or upper profiled bar matching saidtaper shape. This design of the invention offers the advantage that theouter contour of the lower profiled bar is not changed relative toconventional reeds and that it is very easy to use a reed of theinvention as an alternative to conventional reeds without furtherchanges in the loom. This design also allows forming reeds withcomparatively wide reed dents having a straight front and rear edgewhich are recommended for high-rate weaving and/or to weave heavyfabrics. In this instance as well said wide reed dents can be usedwithout entailing significantly changing the width of the lower profiledbar. In particular the same fasteners may be used to affix reeds havingreed dents of different widths to the same batten beam.

Further features and advantages of the invention are elucidated in thedescription below and in relation to the embodiment shown in thedrawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a cutaway of a reed of the invention mountedto a batten beam,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the reed of FIG. 1 shown on a larger scale,

FIGS. 3-6 are sections similar or to that of FIG. 2 of differentembodiments modes.

FIG. 7 is a perspective of a cutaway of a modified embodiment of a reedof the invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section of the reed of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a section similar to that of FIG. 8 of a modified embodiment,and

FIG. 10 is a section similar to that of FIG. 8 of a further embodimentof a reed of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The reed 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a plurality of paralleladjacent reed dents 21. The reed dents 21 are fitted with a recess thatdefines a guide channel 5 to receive an inserted filling. At their upperand lower end zones, the reed dents 21 are kept apart from each other ata defined spacing by connecting spirals 6, 19 and are affixed at theirupper and lower ends to upper and lower U-channels or cross-sectionallyprofiled bars 8 and 22 resp. The reed dents 21 are bonded both to theconnecting spirals 6, 19 and the upper and lower Profiled bars 8 and 22.The lower Profiled bar 22 is affixed by a wedge 23 and screws 11 to abatten beam 12. The batten beam 12 is affixed in a known manner bybatten arms spaced parallel with the batten beam shaft.

The reed dents 21 are formed as a substantially cross-sectionallyrectangular lower segment 14 of which the width 15 is about 6 mm. Thiswidth is substantially larger than that of conventional reed dents,which is roughly only 4 mm.

The reed dents 21 also include a substantially cross-sectionallyrectangular upper segment 16 of which the width is about 4 mm. The widthof this segment is substantially the same as that of conventional reeddents. Moreover the reed dents 21 include a middle segment 18 formedwith a U-shaped recess and connected the lower segment 14 and the uppersegment 16. The middle segment 18 is fitted with an edge 24 whichconnects to the rear-side edge 26 of the upper segment 16 and to therear-side edge 25 of the lower segment 14. The middle segment 18 isfitted at its front side with an upper, curved edge 27 merging into thefront edge 13 of the upper segment 16. This curved edge 27 mergesthrough a rounded part into the upper edge 29 of the recess subtendingthe guide channel 5. In similar manner a curved edge 28 adjoins thefront edge 32 of the lower segment 14 and merges through a roundedelement into the lower edge 30 of the recess subtending the guidechannel 5. In the vicinity of the guide channel 5, the reed dents 21form a beatup edge 31 which is aligned at line 33 with the front edge 13of the upper segment 16 and the front edge 32 of the lower segment 14.

Besides the already mentioned advantages, the segment 14 having a widthof about 6 mm furthermore offers the advantage that—compared with theconventional reed dents—the reed dents 21 are substantially thicker inthe zone between the lower Profiled bar 22 and the beatup edge 31, as aresult of which the danger that the reed dents 21 will break is less inthis zone. Compared to conventional reed dents, the zone of the uppersegment 16 is lengthened, whereas the curved edge 27 is shortened. Inthis manner the reed dent weight in the zone of this segment 16 has beenreduced over that of conventional reed dents.

The middle of the beatup edge 31, which conventionally beats fillingsagainst the fabric is situated a distance 34 of about 48 mm above thelower end of the reed dents 21. The distance 35 between the lower endand the upper end of the reed dents 21 is about 104 mm. In modifiedembodiments, this distance may be approximately between 94 and 104 mm.

The reed dents shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 offer the same advantages as thoseof FIG. 2. The reed dent 37 of FIG. 3 is fitted in the upper segment 16with a short and straight edge 38 which is linked by means of acomparatively long and straight edge 39 to the also straight andrelatively short edge 25 of the lower segment 14. On the other hand,underneath the guide channel 5, there is another curved front edge whichis shorter than the edge 28 of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

The reed dent 41 of FIG. 4 is fitted with an edge 42 above the channel 5which is longer than the edge 27 of FIGS. 2 and 3 and correspondsapproximately to the edges of conventional reed dents. At the rear side,the reed dents 41 are fitted with a straight and comparatively long edge26 (similar to the case of FIG. 2) in the segment 16, and in the zone ofthe lower segment 14, they are fitted with a straight and relativelylong edge 43. These two edges are linked in the zone above the guidechannel by a straight and comparatively short edge 44. In thisembodiment the weight of the reed dent 41 above the beatup edge 31slightly exceeds that of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 or 3; however thewidth, and hence the mechanical strength of the reed dents 41, is largerbetween the lower U-channel 22 and the beatup edge 31.

FIG. 5 shows a reed dent 45 of a design similar to that of the reed dent37 in FIG. 3. however the rear-side edge 46 between the upper end 48 andthe lower end 49 of the reed dents 45 is a straight line. The edge 46subtends an angle 47 of about 1.15° with a line 52 which runs parallelto the line 33 that passes through the front edge 13 of the uppersegment 16, the front edge 13 of the lower segment 14 and the beatupedge 31.

The reed dent 50 shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the reed dent 41 of FIG.4, however in this case the rear-side edge 51 also extends along astraight line between the upper end 48 and the lower end 49 of the reeddents 50. In the vicinity of the upper U-channel, the reed dents 50 areformed as an approximately rectangular side surface of about 4 mm and inthe zone of the lower U-channel a substantially rectangular segment 14of a width 15 of approximately 6 mm.

As regards the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the reed 60 comprises aplurality of reed dents 61 that are fitted with a rear edge 69 startingat the upper segment 16. In the zone of its front edge, the reed dents61 are designed in the manner of the embodiment of FIG. 2. and thatdescription may be referred to as needed. However the lower segment 14is further divided into two sub-segments 66 and 68, the upper lowersub-segment 68 tapering from the upper edge 63 of the cross-sectionalprofile 62 toward the lower sub-segment 66. The width 67 of the lowersub-segment 66 is about 4 mm. The lower sub-segment 66 is adjoinedwithin the lower cross-sectional profile 62 by the upper sub-segment 68in the form of a wedge-shaped sub-segment 68 linking the lowersub-segment 66 with the segment 14 projecting from the lower U-channel.the width 15 of the segment 14 being about 6 mm. The front edge 65 ofthe lower segment 14 merges into the curved front edge 28. The frontedge of the lower sub-segment 66 runs in alignment with the beatup edge31 and the edge 13 of the upper segment. The front edge of the lowerU-channel 62 is located at a distance 70 of about 2 mm from the edge 13.In this embodiment, the width of the U-channel profile 62 is practicallyidentical with that of a conventional U-channel profile. The width ofthe lower U-channel is about 8 mm and as a result the same fasteners canbe used as in conventional reeds, that is, a clamping strip 10 andscrews 11 fastening the reeds to a batten beam 12. Because the beatupedge 31 of the reed 60, with reed dents 61, is situated in the sameposition as a beatup edge fitted with conventional reed dents, the reed60 can replace a conventional one without thereby affecting the beatupposition of the beatup edges of these reeds.

However, because the lower segment 14—that is, the segment 14 projectingfrom the upper edge 63 of the lower U-channel 62 of the reed dents 61—isof a width 15 of 6 mm, these reed dents 61 offer the same advantagesalready described in relation to the embodiments of FIGS. 2 through 6.The danger of streaks in the fabric is reduced at high weaving rates andsimultaneously the danger of breaking the reed dents reduced.

The design of the reed dents 71 of a reed 72 shown in FIG. 9 correspondssubstantially with that of the reed dents 61 of the embodiment of FIG.8. However they differ in the area of the lower segment 73 where theyare affixed inside a lower U-channel profile 76. The lower segment 73 ofthe reed dents 71 has a width of about 6 mm in the direction of thearrow B at its portion projecting from the upper edge 77 of theU-channel profile 76. That portion within the U-channel of the segment73 then tapers to a width of about 4 mm, the side edges 74, 75 firstbeing curved and merging continuously into a substantially rectangularsurface whereat the width is about 4 mm. The side walls of the lowerU-channel 76 are contoured correspondingly and therefore only the lowerU-channel 76 has outside dimensions corresponding to those of a lowerU-channel of a conventional reed. The curved surfaces or side edges 74,75 of the lower segment 73 extend approximately over ⅓ the height of thelower U-channel 76.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 shows a reed 80 which also comprisesjuxtaposed reed dents 81. These reed dents are fitted with a middlesegment extending at a constant width in the direction B of about 6 mmfrom an upper, tapering U-channel 82 to a lower, tapering U-channel 83.The lower end zone by which the reed dents 81 enter the lower, taperingU-channel 83 constricts in a tapering manner, both side edges 84, 85being straight and tapering in the direction A toward the inside of thetapering U-channel 83. The outer contour of the lower tapering U-channel83 or profiled bar corresponds to the outer contour of the lowerprofiled bar of a conventional reed, that is, its width is about 8 mm.As a result, this reed 80 may replace a conventional reed in the samebatten beam 12 using the same fasteners 10, 11.

In order to be able to use a comparatively small tapering U-channel 82also in the zone of the upper ends of the reed dents 81, the ends of thereed dents 81 run together in tapering manner in the direction C, andthe two side edges 86. 87 of the reed dents 81 also extend straight. Theinner contour of the upper tapering U-channel 82 matches in the same waythe tapering ends of the reed dents 81. It follows therefore from FIG.10 that the reed dents 81 have increased width within the segmentbetween the lower edge 88 of the upper tapering U-channel 82 and theupper edge 89 of the lower tapering U-channel 83, for instance a widthof 6 mm, whereas and foremost the lower tapering U-channel 83. and alsothe upper tapering U-channel 82, have an outer contour not larger thanthe corresponding U-channel of conventional reeds wherein the reed dentshave a width in the direction B of only about 4 mm.

The invention also applies to reed dents having other shapes other thanthose shown above. Combinations of particular embodiments described alsomay be used for the reed dents and/or for the upper and lower U-channelor profiled bars. Because increase in mechanical strength is not soughtin the zone of the upper U-channel, but instead weight reduction is,other shapes and in particular stepped shapes may be used for the insidecontour of the upper profiled bars and for the upper ends of the reeddents.

The reed dents of the invention and their reeds are appropriate forairjet looms, gripper looms, waterjet looms and looms operated withother liquids, projectile looms, shuttle looms and other weavingmachines.

The scope of the present invention is defined by the attached claims andalso allows further modifications of the embodiments modes above thatwere described only in illustrative manner.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reed comprising a plurality of juxtaposed reeddents (61,71,81) having ends held in a lower profiled bar (62,76,83)securable to a batten beam (12) and in an upper profiled bar (8,82), thereed dents have a width of about 6 mm at least in a segment projectingfrom the lower profiled bar and a width of about 4 mm in an uppersegment thereof; said reed dents (61, 71, 81) having a tapered width inthe segment wherein they enter the lower profiled bar (62, 74, 83), theinside cross-section of the lower profiled bar matching said taperedwidth.
 2. The reed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that thesegment has a tapering width extending from the open side of theprofiled bar (62, 76) over a length corresponding to about ½ to ⅓ thedepth of the profiled bar, and in that said segment is adjoined by asub-segment of lesser width and of substantially straight side surface.3. A reed dent (61, 71, 81) for a reed (60, 72, 80) comprising an uppersegment mountable in an upper profiled bar (8, 82) and a lower segmentmountable in a lower profiled bar (62, 76, 84), characterized in thatthe lower segment has at least in its segment or sub-segment projectingfrom the lower profiled bar (62, 76, 83) a width of about 6 mm andwherein the upper segment's width is about 4 mm; and wherein the lowersegment (68, 73) has a tapering width in its sub-segment mountable insaid lower profiled bar (62, 76, 83).
 4. The reed dent as claimed inclaim 3, characterized in that a terminal sub-segment havingsubstantially a rectangular cross-section adjoins the sub-segmentexhibiting a taper.
 5. The reed dent as claimed in claim 4, wherein thelength of the terminal sub-segment of substantially cross-sectionallyrectangular shape is substantially the same as the length of thesub-segment at which the width decreases in wedge-shaped manner.
 6. Areed comprising a plurality of juxtaposed reed dents (61, 71, 81) havingends adapted to be held in a lower profiled bar (62, 76, 83) securableto a batten beam (12) and in an upper profiled bar (8, 82), wherein thereed dents (61,71, 81) each have a tapered width in a lower segmentthereof where it is adapted to enter a lower profiled bar.
 7. The reedclaimed in claim 6, wherein said lower profiled bar has an insidecross-section matching the tapered width of the lower segment andwherein the lower segment has a tapering width extending over a lengthcorresponding to about ⅓ to ½ of a depth of the profiled bar, and inthat said lower segment is adjoined by a sub-segment (66) of lesserwidth and having substantially straight side surfaces.
 8. A reed dent(61, 71, 81) for a reed (60, 72, 80) comprising an upper segmentmountable in an upper profiled bar (8, 82) and a lower segment mountablein a lower profiled bar (62, 76, 83), the lower segment (68, 73) havinga tapering width in a sub-segment adapted to be insertable in a lowerprofiled bar (62, 76, 83).
 9. The reed dent as claimed in claim 8,wherein a terminal sub-segment (66) having substantially a rectangularcross-section adjoins the sub-segment having a tapering width.
 10. Thereed dent as claimed in claim 9, wherein the terminal sub-segment havingsubstantially a cross-sectional rectangular cross-section has a lengththat is substantially the same as the length of said sub-segment havinga tapering width.
 11. A reed comprising a plurality of juxtaposed reeddents (61,71,81) having ends held in a lower profiled bar (62,76,83)securable to a batten beam (12) and in an upper profiled bar (82), thereed dents having a tapered width in a segment at which the reed dentsenter the lower profiled bar, wherein the inside cross-section of thelower profiled bar matches said tapered width.
 12. The reed claimed inclaim 11, wherein said segment has tapering width extending from theopen side of the profiled bar (62,76) over a length corresponding toabout ⅓ to ½ the depth of the profiled bar, and in that said segment isadjoined by a sub-segment of lesser width and of substantially straightside surface.
 13. A reed comprising a plurality of juxtaposed reed dents(21, 37, 41, 45, 50) having opposed ends held in a lower profiled bar(22) securable to a batten beam (12) and in an upper profiled bar (8);said reed dents each having a length between said ends and having awidth between front and rear edges thereof of about 6 mm at least in alower segment (14) projecting from the lower profiled bar and of about 4mm in an upper segment thereof; said reed dents each further comprisinga filling guide channel (5) in a middle segment (18), said channeldefined by a transverse substantially U-shaped recess, and a beatup edge(31) provided in a bottom region of the recess; the front edges of thelower segment and the upper segment of each reed dent configured so theyare aligned at least approximately with said beatup edge, the rear edgeof each reed dent configured and located with respect to the front edgeof the respective reed dent so as to define said 4 mm and 6 mm widthsalong the length of each reed dent.
 14. A reed dent (21, 37, 41, 45, 50)for a reed (20) comprising an upper segment (16) including a portionmountable in an upper profiled bar (8) and a lower segment (14)including a portion mountable in a lower profiled bar (22); said reeddent having a length between opposed ends thereof, and having a widthbetween front and rear edges thereof of about 6 mm at least in a portionof the lower segment that normally would project from a lower profiledbar when said portion of the lower segment of the dent is mounted insuch bar, and of about 4 mm in the upper segment thereof; said reed dentfurther comprising a filling guide channel (5) in a middle segment (18)thereof defined by a transverse substantially U-shaped recess, and abeatup edge (31) provided in a bottom region of the recess; the frontedges of the lower segment and the upper segment of the reed dentconfigured so they are aligned at least approximately with said beatupedge, the rear edge of the reed dent configured and located with respectto the front edge therof so as to define said 4 mm and 6 mm widths. 15.A reed as claimed in claim 13, said end held in the lower profiled barhaving a rectangular shape and a width of about 6 mm within the lowerprofiled bar.
 16. A reed as claimed in claim 13, said end held in theupper profiled bar having a rectangular shape and a width of about 4 mmwithin the upper profiled bar.
 17. A reed as claimed in claim 13, saidend held in the lower profiled bar having a rectangular shape and awidth of about 6 mm within the lower profiled bar; said end held in theupper profiled bar having a rectangular shape and a width of about 4 mmwithin the upper profiled bar.
 18. A reed as claimed in claim 13,wherein the rear edge (46, 50) of each reed dent is linear along thelength of the reed dent between the ends held in the upper and lowerprofiled bars.
 19. A reed dent as claimed in claim 14, wherein the rearedge (46, 50) of each reed dent is linear along the length of the reeddent between the portions of the upper and lower segments mountable inupper and lower profiled bars.